First Year Insight Scheme Review

It was very informative and hands on. I loved how busy we were with real work.

Every employee was happy to help, and we were always greeted with a smiling face. There was also a lot of checking up on us to make sure we were comfortable with what we were doing. Even the simple things made us feel comfortable. For example, we were always asked if we wanted drinks or had any questions.

Everyone had individual trainees to help them with their questions, and there were named persons that we could speak to throughout the day. We also got to speak to a lot of different people throughout the two days, so it was easy to get answers to our questions. Also, some people were willing to give their email addresses in case we needed more information.

I learnt a lot of tips about how to make the best applications, and how to get the most out of vacation schemes. I learnt when to get my applications submitted, and what to really draw upon in my interviews. For my degree, I learnt that I need to manage my time in a way where I can apply for schemes such as these, but also excel.

There was always a schedule to follow, and we were on time.

The atmosphere was friendly and positive. This made everyone feel more comfortable during their visit. I always say people smiling at us throughout our time there. I could ask absolutely anyone for directions, or even a question about the firm, and they'd be more than happy to help. It felt relaxed.

They let us know that we could contact them in the future if we had any questions.

We got to do work that was very much like the work of trainees. Therefore, it was easy to see what it would be like if we got a training contract with the firm. As well as this, we got to sit in real client meetings and look through real case materials. This was all real work that Baker McKenzie does.

As we spoke to different people every day, we were able to ask everyone questions. We got a lot of people's different views on the company and its culture through this. Immersing ourselves in real work was the thing that helped us see the culture the most, however. Additionally, speaking to people at networking sessions showed what the culture was like in an informal context.

Being able to work with a real firm on real cases made me realise whether or not I wanted to continue to be a solicitor and work with a corporate firm. Being able to experience the company culture meant that I was able to decide that I wanted to apply to Baker McKenzie in the future.

I have not yet been reimbursed my expenses, however, I was told a few weeks ago that we would all be reimbursed. I am sure that I am on the way to getting reimbursed, or will receive my travel expenses back if i email once again. I would perhaps consider a way of providing those from less-privileged backgrounds ways to travel to London, as sometimes they may not be able to pay the expensive train costs upfront.

We meet with trainees every single day. I remember attending at least two panels of trainees who let us ask them any question we wanted. In addition to this, we meet with senior partners and even got to present to them. We also got to network at lunch and dinner with different types of trainees, and qualified solicitors.

The networking events were always informal and laid back. This was always much appreciated after intense presentations or pitching workshops. It made everyone more comfortable with asking questions. As well as this, the social activities were amazing, and great for team building. The escape room was something that a lot of us had not done before, and it was fun to see everyone crawling around in their suits!

We were able to learn about the pro-bono opportunities that Baker McKenzie offers. We learnt that there are clinics that employees can go to to offer advice. We also learnt about the large football game that Baker McKenzie employees can take part in, and that this is an international social event.

This is definitely something I would recommend to a friend, as it allows you to get a good Insight into the culture and work at Baker McKenzie. It also greatly improves one's presentation and communication skills, as there were workshops which helped us to ameliorate these. Lastly, it gives you tips on how to succeed in a vacation scheme, and this is important for undergraduates to secure training contracts.